Tricia King

Research Interests

My research program investigates the interacting biopsychosocial factors that contribute to optimal outcomes following neurodevelopmental disruption. My team and I focus on what happens to the developing brain many years after brain injury/medical condition and how those events affect cognitive abilities across the lifespan. To understand the neural mechanisms underlying both cognitive and social-emotional abilities of individuals, we employ clinical neuropsychological testing as well as neuroimaging such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate white matter pathways and functional MRI (fMRI) to examine brain activation. The breadth of our research within this framework is demonstrated by our investigations into many neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., congenital heart disease, childhood traumatic brain injury). The depth of our contribution to science is evidenced by our clinical research examining longitudinal cognitive performance and innovative structural and functional neuroimaging with long-term survivors of pediatric brain tumors, initially funded by a Research Scholar Grant awarded by the American Cancer Society. I have extended this comprehensive program of research in many exciting ways by building strong multisite, collaborative teams.

One extension of this research focuses on identifying genetic diatheses that may predispose some survivors to experience more severe impairments following lifesaving neurotoxic treatments (e.g., radiation and/or chemotherapy), while others with similar disease characteristics (e.g., molecular subtype of tumor, radiation dose, age at treatment) are thriving. In an ongoing collaboration with Dr. Tobey McDonald of Emory University/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we examine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with chemoradiation-induced cognitive toxicities in childhood survivors of medulloblastoma. In addition, there is a significant need to identify socioeconomic contextual factors that are contributing to survivorship cognitive difficulties. We have a multisite project, funded by the NIH National Cancer Institute, that examines multifactorial socioeconomic context, clinical factors, and clinically relevant candidate SNPs using gene and RNA sequencing in survivors of pediatric medulloblastoma. The additional collaborative sites that are actively recruiting for this study include University of Birmingham, AL and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH. Our team has also expanded our program of research to examine socioeconomic and clinical contextual factors simultaneously with candidate SNPs in survivors of pediatric low-grade glioma, the most common childhood brain cancer. We currently lead this multisite collaboration with Children’s National Health System in DC that is funded by the PLGA Fund at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Within this program of research, we are interested in identifying efficient screening batteries that are sensitive to subtle cognitive changes and may be used improve the standard quality of care. Early identification of individuals at risk for adverse long-term outcomes is critical. We are examining both traditional gold-standard clinical measures as well as computerized performance measures of core cognitive skills. These data also will guide the development of interventions to mitigate the severity of late effects and to optimize adaptive outcomes across the lifespan.

By integrating these unique and complementary data, our team science will accelerate advancements in individualized precision medicine of the future, resulting in greater prognostic abilities and enhanced interventions to mitigate neurotoxicities and enable survivors to thrive. Consistent with the STAR Act of 2018 and the Precision Medicine Initiative, our research will allow for early identification of individuals at risk for cognitive impairment, inform the development of risk-adapted chemotherapy and radiation regimens, and reduce cognitive impairment. Furthermore, it will provide individualized targets for cognitive and lifestyle interventions and help to mechanistically develop drugs designed to prevent, mitigate, and manage the severity of late effects. Such progress will optimize childhood brain tumor survivors’ cognitive abilities and adaptive outcomes and improve their overall health-related quality of life.

All of these rewarding collaborations build upon my interests of optimizing outcomes of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions across the lifespan.

Biography

Professor King has been a faculty member at GSU since completing her F32 funded postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at Brown University Medical School in 2002. She is a Fellow of the Society of Clinical Neuropsychology of the American Psychological Association (APA, SCN, Division 40). Dr. King was elected and serves as Treasurer of APA SCN. She also serves as the faculty advisor on GSU's chapter of the Association of Neuropsychology Students in Training (ANST). In 2019, Dr. King was the invited speaker for GSU Provost's Women Inspire Series. In 2020, she was awarded GSU's Outstanding Undergraduate Mentoring Award.

I am committed to equity and inclusion in research, clinical care, and education – for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color and for those who are underserved or otherwise vulnerable to poor outcomes and quality of life.

Many of my students have developed clinical neuropsychological evaluation and intervention, and research skills while contributing to our team research projects. Our research is often conducted at GSU/GA Tech Joint Center for Advanced Brain Imaging (CABI).

Check out the video of former graduate student, Dr. Ryan Brewster, describing his graduate school experiences working at CABI on funded research projects (Clinical Research on the Mysteries of the Brain and Behavior)

See also the current student projects and accomplishments and where alumni are currently located at the Developmental Neuropsychology - Across the Lifespan (DNP-ATL) Research Team Website (DNP-ATL Research Team Website).